Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Releasse Date: May 9th, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

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The Kraken King by Meljean Brook is an 8 part serial steampunk romance. This is my review of the first two parts.

Synopsis

A former smuggler and thief, Ariq—better known as the Kraken King—doesn’t know what to make of the clever, mysterious woman he rescues from an airship besieged by marauders. Unsure if she’s a spy or a pawn in someone else’s game, Ariq isn’t about to let her out of his sight until he finds out…

After escaping her fourth kidnapping attempt in a year, Zenobia Fox has learned to vigilantly guard her identity. While her brother Archimedes is notorious for his exploits, Zenobia has had no adventures to call her own—besides the stories she writes. But when she jumps at the chance to escape to the wilds of Australia and acquire research for her next story, Zenobia quickly discovers that the voyage will be far more adventurous than any fiction she could put to paper…

Title: The Kraken King Part II: The Kraken King and the Abominable Worm

Author: Meljean Brook 

Date of publication: 22 April 2014 

Genre/themes: Romance, Steampunk, Adventure 

Author's links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads 

Purchase links: Kindle | Nook | Kobo | iTunes

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

As they continue their expedition across Australia, Ariq is determined to stay close to Zenobia and figure out what kind of game she’s playing—even as his admiration for the enigmatic woman starts to override his suspicion.

For Zenobia, revealing her identity to a man who once made his living outside of the law is out of the question—even though Ariq’s dashing looks and blunt manner are distractingly appealing.

But before anyone’s secrets or desires can be exposed, an unexpected attack threatens to destroy them all…

Review

This my first steampunk novel and I decided to try it as part of my personal challenge to read new genres/styles. As an experiment I have to say it is very successful so far. 

I'm really enjoying both the story and the writing style. Ms Brook got me deeply involved in the story of Ariq and Zenobia and the world they live in. Her narrative is powerful without being overly descriptive and it presents both the world and the characters' emotions convincingly. Both Ariq and Zenobia have distinctive voices which engage the reader deeply in their story.

Part I introduces us to the hero and heroine and sets the background to the overall story. It also doesn't lack action and Ariq and Zenobia's meeting takes places under rather extreme circumstances. It took me some time to make sense this new and rather unusual world with its mechanical creatures and machines. Still, I'd say that all this is a very entertaining flight of the imagination.

Part II continues to build on everything in book 1 - the characters, the world, the action, the sexual attraction and the secrets.

I liked all the action and adventure in this serial so far and highly appreciate the curious mixture of futuristic elements such nanotechnology and Victorian atmosphere and morality Ms Brook creates.

Both Ariq and Zenobia are very interesting, complex characters. He is honest and direct to the point of being blunt. He is considered barbarian, yet he is led in all his actions by a strong moral code. In a world of spies, mercenaries and marauders, he stands out with his honesty.

Zenobia is a great adventure heroine. She is smart, with a dry sense of humour, and she is not easily intimidated.

There is a strong chemistry between Ariq and Zenobia, though they both guard tightly their secrets. Part I and II build up the sexual tension between them in the most exquisite way and I'm looking forward to the next installment  for them to finally succumb to their passion.

In general, I'm not a fan of the serial form since I'm too impatient to wait for the next part. Still, I'm enjoying this serial so far with the slow build-up of the relationship between Ariq and Zenobia set against an action-packed plot full of intrigue and suspense.

Title: Breakable (Contours of the Heart #2)
Author: Tammara Webber
Date of publication: 6 May 2014
Genre:  Romance, New Adult, College

Author's links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
Purchase links: Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo / Book Depository

My rating: 4 Stars

He was lost and alone. Then he found her.

And the future seemed more fragile than ever.

As a child, Landon Lucas Maxfield believed his life was perfect and looked forward to a future filled with promise — until tragedy tore his family apart and made him doubt everything he ever believed.

All he wanted was to leave the past behind. When he met Jacqueline Wallace, his desire to be everything she needed came so easy…

As easy as it could be for a man who learned that the soul is breakable and that everything you hoped for could be ripped away in a heartbeat.

Easy was one of the first New Adult books I read and I really enjoyed it. I thought the book completed the story of Lucas and Jacqueline and I didn't expect a sequel or another boo about them. So, when I learned that there will be a companion novel to Easy told from Lucas' POV I was both excited and a little weary. The stories  told from the other character's POV are very popular right now, but most of them are not successful since they  often feel like you are reading the same book.

I'm very, very happy to tell you that this was not the case with Breakable and it is a worthy companion novel to Easy which complemented the original story in the perfect way.

The narrative is divided in two parts - Lucas'POV (present day) and Landon's POV (his teenage years after the tragedy in his life and before meeting Jaqueline). I loved the Landon parts best of all. They gave insight in young Landon and how the death of his mother and later the attitude of his father made him the man he was when he met Jacqueline.

His suffering, his troubles at school and his first love (or so he thought at the time) were very convincngly presented. I felt deeply for young Landon who had to deal with his guilt and pain on his own. His friend Boyce was a  great supporting character and I enjoyed their relationship a lot. Still, I felt this plotline was left incomplete. I'm curious how things worked out for Boyce and I'd be happy for him to get a book of his own.

The part of Lucas were interesting and they dd show all the conflicting emotions he felt for Jacqueline since the first moment he saw. Yet they told things were already new and hence, they were less interesting. Lucas' fixation on Jacqueline seemed a bit stalkerish, especially at the beginning and his duplicity did bother me as much as they did in book 1. At the same time, Lucas was very gentle and considerate with her, he never pushed her into anything she wasn't ready for.

Unlike the relationship with Boyce, Lucas' friendship with Joseph seemed to lack depth and it didn't add anything to the story or to his character. 

Another minor quibble I had was the lack of dialogue/communication between Lucas and Jacqueline. We've already read it in Easy and it was probably omitted to avoid repetition but this made the narrative seemed disjointed at times and it  didn't flow as smooth as in book 1.

Overall, it's a great New Adult story, very emotional and intense with sensual, yet gentle love scenes. The book explores some heavy issues of violence against women, family issues, dealing with grief and guilt, and ends with a very optimistic happy-end. It's a must read for all fans of Easy and New Adult romances in general.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

• Grab your current read 

• Open to a random page 

• Share two (2) or a few more “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

I continued with the next parts of The Kraken King by Meljean Brook - a steampunk serial of 8 parts. My teaser today is from Part III - The Kraken King and the Fox's Den and unlike like week's, this one is from Zenobia's perspective. I'm currently on part V and I'm still enjoying it very much. 

She'd move closer; maybe he'd thought she would flirt.

Zenobia would have if she wan't terrible at it. Making her characters spout charming lines was easy, but similar words in her mouth always sounded false. So she had to make real conversation instead.

The Kraken King, Part III: The Kraken King and the Fox's Den 

Synopsis

After a harrowing escape, Zenobia, Ariq, and their company take refuge in a gold rush town—but their temporary port is just a respite before traveling to the dangerous smugglers’ dens. Ariq is determined to uncover the men responsible for the threat to Krakentown, even if it means confronting the notorious den lords.

But when he discovers evidence in Zenobia’s letters connecting her to the Horde rebellion, he realizes that the threat is far greater than he had suspected. His loyalties torn, Ariq must distance himself from the fascinating woman he desperately wants to hold closer.

Stunned and hurt by Ariq’s inexplicable coldness, Zenobia prepares to leave the dens and continue her journey to the Red City. But in the smugglers’ dens, danger lurks around every corner, and all of her protection is gone…